Then, the Grizzlies' point guard started calling out teammates as he smiled and took a stroll down memory lane.

His point was simply that there are a bunch of guys on the Grizzlies' roster who have no idea about how far the franchise has come.

"We won 20 games and couldn't get anybody in the stands. It was rough," Conley said. "I'd go to University of Memphis games and you couldn't believe it was the same arena. I didn't know what FedExForum looked like when it sold out."

That was four years ago. Now, the Grizzlies are preparing for their first trip to the Western Conference finals and a chance to play for an NBA championship. To a man, there doesn't seem to be much time for celebration. But the Grizzlies' reflection on their journey shows an appreciation for the process of going from laughingstock to legitimate title contender.

The Grizzlies have won eight of their last nine playoffs games, and upended a pair of higher seeds along the way. They have blossomed in the NBA's elite landscape like a weed, which is to say it's been pretty darn difficult to get rid of a grit-and-grind team that's bucking trends in the postseason.

The fifth-seeded Grizzlies' path to the conference finals was rather remarkable. They lost two straight games to the fourth-place Los Angeles Clippers to start the opening round and then won four straight. Memphis dropped Game 1 against top-seeded Oklahoma City and won the next four contests to capture the West semifinals.

The Grizzlies began their playoff history in Memphis losing their first 12 games. This version of the Griz is 18-13 over the past three postseasons behind the commitment to a core group of Conley, Tony Allen, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

"It's just confidence," Randolph said. "It just continues to build and build, and guys continue to get better and better."

Looking back, there was great skepticism about management's belief in each of those players, just like there was with the hire of coach Lionel Hollins. Together, they've exceeded expectations, overachieved and made believers out of even the harshest critics.

"We've established ourselves as the Memphis Grizzlies. This is our team," Hollins said. "That's been very gratifying as we've gone along because when we got here, if the (Boston) Celtics or (Los Angeles) Lakers or a team with great players came to town, then fans would come out. Otherwise, the stands were empty. They weren't motivated to yell. But we've laid a foundation that we're somebody to come root for. We're part of the fabric. I'm proud of that as much as anything."

Reserve Jerryd Bayless admits he didn't quite know what he signed up for as a free agent last summer other than a safe bet the Griz would earn a playoff berth.

"I didn't know we'd get this far," Bayless said. "I don't know what to say. I'm at a loss for words. It's great."

Bayless, however, had plenty to say to newcomer Ed Davis during a road game against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 13. Bayless was talking to Davis on the bench as the Griz cruised to an 11-point victory.

"Memphis needs something like this," Conley said. "It needs for the Grizzlies to succeed in the way we have so far."

The journey to this magical place is so much more personal for Hollins, who has been in the Grizzlies' organization longer than anyone on the basketball side, from here to Vancouver.

"There are a lot of people who were in our organization who are no longer here that I think about," Hollins said. "Every step of the way I think about (former vice president of basketball operations) Dana Davis, who passed away. (The late) Gene Bartow (former president of Hoops LP). Kenny Williamson (former assistant general manager), who passed away, and other people who have moved on to other jobs since the management change.

"All of these people were a big part of the groundwork and the foundation that were laid. So I think about them and them not having an opportunity to be here and celebrate the success. Every win, I think about all of those people and the great fans in Memphis, and how they've come to embrace us fully. Memphis is not a big-market city and we've given life to downtown and life to businesses. You just think about all of those things as you go forward and reflect."

Reflecting is all the Griz are willing to do now. They won't truly celebrate until general manager Chris Wallace's introductory press conference statement is fulfilled.

Wallace came to Memphis and immediately announced the goal of having a championship parade down Beale Street.